Share market closes flat after economic data fails to sway investors

Local shares closed flat at the end of Monday's trade, with a raft of economic data failing to sway investors in either direction.

The All Ordinaries Index ended three points lower at 5,202 and the ASX 200 fell two points to 5,188.

Among the figures released, the ANZ Job Advertisements Series eased again, falling 0.3 per cent in January.

Job ads are down 9 per cent compared to a year ago, but economists say the pace of deterioration in the survey is moderating, suggesting unemployment may peak at a lower level than previously thought.

There was also some weakness in building approvals.

Bureau of Statistics figures show a 2.9 per cent fall in approvals during December. Analysts had been looking for a rise of 2 per cent.

The RP Data Rismark Home Values Index brought better news, with capital city home values rising by 1.2 per cent in January.

That was driven by solid price growth in Melbourne, Hobart and Sydney.

Elsewhere, the performance of manufacturing index by the Australian Industry Group fell slightly in January to record its third straight month of contraction.

And the latest TD Securities-Melbourne Institute inflation gauge rose by just 0.1 per cent in January, placing the annual rate of inflation in the middle of the Reserve Bank's 2 to 3 per cent target range.

That data dump did little to influence investors; BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto led the miners lower, falling 0.3 per cent and 0.5 per cent respectively.